A COMMITTED volunteer for a programme providing activities for those with health conditions or who have recently been discharged from hospital has been nominated in the 2015 Community Stars Awards.

Mohammed Nazir, a volunteer community health champion with Champions Show The Way, has been nominated in the volunteer, community group, community champion and good neighbour categories of the awards, which honour those who go the extra mile to make a difference across the district.

He was nominated by Amina Rehman who is the programme lead at Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust for his dedication and commitment as he leads health walks twice a week in Girlington for people with long-term health conditions.

She said: "He leads the group in an inner city area with high health inequalities. Often it is difficult to engage people in this area but his perseverance and dedication show that he is willing and committed to making a difference.

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"Prior to becoming a walk leader, he was volunteering as a group leader at the local community centre but he was looking for new ways of keeping the group active and involved," she added.

"We worked together on the idea of establishing a walking group. Since then, he has been involved in volunteering at so many levels ranging from distributing flyers, participating at champions network and walk leader meetings to getting involved with the Champions Show The Way film."

She also praised Mr Nazir for helping to monitor the progress of the people in his walking group who mostly have long-term health conditions, adding: "He cares about people and their health and wellbeing. He has been positively encouraging people to be active in the community and take up activities that would benefit their health and wellbeing. He has recently encouraged members of his community to sign up as community health champions and train up as walk leaders."

Mr Nazir, 79, said he had been volunteering for the programme for a number of years and was delighted that his hard work had been recognised.

He said: “It’s a great honour. I’m very pleased to be nominated.”

The honours are organised by the Telegraph & Argus and Bradford Council in an effort to ensure unsung heroes across the district are rewarded for their commitment.

Readers are asked to nominate deserving people and organisations in their neighbourhoods before Monday, September 28. They will then be whittled down by a panel of judges before it is back over to Bradfordians to vote for who they think is the most deserving from the shortlist of nominees.

Winners in the six categories - Volunteer, Good Neighbour, Community Group, Fundraiser, Community Champion, and Young Active Citizen - will be announced at a ceremony at City Hall on December 2, where they will each be presented with the Bradford Medal.